Chefabella in 'da house!

This is Chefabella, she is cuter than Rachael Ray and she is cooking up a Thanksgiving feast.

I made eight of these cards for an employee card swap at Archivers. I love using Bellas for this card swap because they make my cards unique, and everyone always wonders which Bella I will use each month. November is an easy one...Chefabella is a shoe in ( Thanks Mary for the images, they came in handy).

Recipe for this card:

Chefabella Image

DP from DCWV Archivers Calendar Stack 2008, Copic Markers, leaf confetti, ribbon from my stash. MMMMM, she is making me hungry!

Watch out world...here I come!!

So guess what was in my mailbox today??? This amazing little blue book. Yes, I am 41 years old and this is my first. I have traveled to most of the 50 states (Alaska and Hawaii and much of the East coast are still on my list), but I have never been out of the country except for a short dip into Mexico when you didn't need a passport.

I am going on a Western Carribean cruise in December so I need this little guy. Of course I forgot that I would need it until just a couple weeks ago. This sent a rush of panic to my travel companion as she had heard that it can take months to get a passport. I did a little research and made a few phone calls hoping that I would not have to pay out the nose for an "expedited" passport. I am told that they are currently taking about 4 weeks. At that time I had seven weeks until my cruise so I decide to chance it and not pay for the faster service. My luck held out and I received my little blue book today (much to the delight of Janie, my travel companion). Now that I have this wonderful thing in my hands I can't help but think of the places I would like to go. Maybe I'll go to France and spend a day with Gretchen having tea parties and bike rides through the French countryside. Or I could explore Italy with my friend Deb (she met an Itailan hottie there last summer) and I would like one of those. Or I could spend some relaxing days at Carolyn's cottage in England. Maybe I'll visit the school in China where Megan taught English to kindergarteners. Ohh I could also do some Bella stampin' with Duchiebella or Bere in their homelands. This little book opens up endless possibilities. I just wish my travel budget was endless as well.

Oh well, at least in a few weeks I'll be cruisin' and I'll have the first stamp in my passport.

I flocked a monkey...

Most of you know that I work part time at Archivers. One of my jobs is as a Mania Hostess. Mania is a 6 hour crop we do from 5-11pm on Friday and Saturday nights. I really enjoy hosting Manias because I get a chance to create a make and take project. I typically do cards.

One night one of the ladies who came to mania was wearing a T-Shirt that said, "Spooning leads to Forking". We (the employees) thought it was funny and then one of them said, "Stamping leads to Flocking". Now that little quote is written on the white board in the stockroom.

Leave it to me to take it one step further. I love the Changito the monkey line of stamps from Stampendous. The holiday set is just too stinkin' cute. So tonight as I announced my make and take project for the evening I said to the crowded room of ladies, "Tonight we're gonna flock the monkey" giggles broke out immediately.

This is the card we did. I keep the layouts and techniques simple so they can be done quickly (there are up to 32 people at mania on any given night). We stamped the skating Changito with black Stazon. Next we used Versamark to stamp the Happy Holidays and embossed it with silver. We colored Changito's accessories with Twinklette glitter markers (the photo doesn't show the sparkle). Now comes the fun part...we colored Changito's body, legs, arms and tail with a quickie glue pen and the added brown flocking. Voila! a fuzzy monkey. We inked the edges with versamagic ink in Ocean Depth and added DP by S.E.I and red velvet rick rack. Cute and easy peasy.

Have you ever flocked a monkey??? If not you should try it!

Special Delivery... it has come full circle.

I had a rotten day at work. I won't bore you with the details but it was bad. Until around 3:30 pm when a package arrived for me.

I have been waiting for this special package from across the sea (France) for a while now. I had it sent to my office because I couldn't take a chance that it would be left on my doorstep unprotected. I know what is inside and it brings a smile to my face and a tiny tear to my eyes. I carefully walk back to my desk to open my special delivery when a co-worker asks, "Is that what I think it is?" she knows I have been waiting. I walk to her desk instead and open it carefully while she watches. This is what I find inside.
For those of you that read my blog, you know. For those who are reading for the first time here is a bit of the story behind this image. This is a birthday gift for my daughter who turned 21 on Wednesday. It is a one of a kind original painting by a very talented lady, Gretchen Jakub Fabre of Chichiboulie.

It is also a tribute to another mother, a sleeping beauty, who has touched my heart. Her name is hidden in my painting. It's sweet reminder of why this was created. I won the auction Gretchen had to raise money for Nie Nie. I had this done to celebrate the bond I have with my daughter, and my hope is that my donation in some small way helps NieNie to have the chance to build a similar bond with her daughters.

Suddenly my "bad day" seems so insignifigant, who am I to complain about anything...life is good.

Birthday Invites

My daughter and her BFF/Roomate are turning 21 on Wednesday. I made these birthday invites for their party. I used an acetate transparency by Fancy Pants Designs for the cards. I layered coordinating DP so that the layers can be seen through the card. A pic of the birthday girls (my daughter Ashleigh is on the left, BFF Gabby is on the right) and some bling finish it off. I love the way they came out. I hope thay have a good time.

Treat purses

I made these treat purses for my daughter and her college roomies. I am kind of the house mom and I enjoy sending them all a box of goodies for each holiday. I usually include some sort if craft or cooking project, some holiday kitchen towels (they have quite a collection now) and I always send candy. For Halloween I included these treat purses.

I used clear envelopes for the bags. Filled them with candy corn, marshmallow pumpkins and peanut butter m&m's. For the tops I cut circles in two sizes out of Halloween DP, folded the circles in half and added ribbon handles. I love the sentiment on the "clasp". Gouls just wanna have fun.

Blog Candy Winner!

Ok, I am a bit late in posting the winner for my blog candy becuase I worked both jobs today. Long day.....

I used random.org to pick my winner. Drum roll please...

The number was 18! The Winner is KIM

Kim said...
Hi Leanne....thanks for the chance to win a wonderful prize! I had so much fun playing along with your challenge...as I don't use buttons often...so this was a real challenge to me! I hope you enjoy my creation! You can see it HERE.Hugs~ Kim
October 9, 2008 6:26 PM


Kim send me your address and I'll get your goodies shipped out. Thanks to everyine who played along. Can't wait for next month.

Tagged again...5's this time!

I was tagged again by Gretchen over at ChiChiboulie. I was also tagged in another (non blogging) group I belong to so I am answering both tags here. Since most of my blog world friends have already had the 7 things about you tag I am using the other one to change it up and get to know a bit more about my blogging friends. The rules are basically the same but this one is in fives.

Here's how it works...
1. Link to your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Answer the five sets of five (these are easy)
3. Tag 5 people in the last section by leaving their names as well as links to their blog.
4. Let them know they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

Here are the 5 sets of five...

Things you love...
1. Sleeping in
2. Having time to create
3. The smell after it rains
4. Babies
5. Happy Mail

Things you don't love...
1. Traffic
2. Bills
3. Rude people
4. Coffee
5. Mangos

Songs on your iPod/Playlist
1. Troublemaker - Wheezer
2. Livin' on a Prayer - Bon Jovi
3. Americal Girl- Carrie Underwood
4. Man in the Mirror - Michael Jackson
5. Bohemian Rhapsody- Queen

Favorite Foods
1. Chocolate
2. Chicken Enchiladas
3. Diet Coke
4. Shrimp
5. Guacamole

People you are tagging...
1.Ramsey
2. Carri D
3. Melanie
4. Jacquie
5. Danette

Have fun ladies!

Buttons and bows and blog candy...oh my!

Yesterday over on Bellaholics I announced the first Embellishment Challenge! I am so honored to be chosen as the first of the Queens to get your creative juices flowin'.

As an extra special treat I am adding something special to this one (but don't expect it every month). My blog reached 1000 hits this week so I am giving blog candy! Anyone who posts a comment with a link to what they did for my challenge will be eligible for the blog candy. Details below.

OK, now on to the challenge.

Bella Buttons and Bows Embellishment Challenge

Buttons remind me of my grandmother. She always had a jar of buttons she had carefully removed from clothing before it became a rag she used for cleaning. I knew her collection had been growing for many years becuase there were hundreds of them in that jar. I have fond memories of spending hours sorting grandma's buttons by colors, sizes and picking out my favorites. The vintage dress buttons were always my favorites. They were delicate and yet ornate and I could imagine the beautiful clothes they had once been a part of. I wonder what ever happened to grandma's button jar.

If you are like me you have a bag, jar or box of buttons that just sit there looking pretty. Once in a while you will use one or two on a card or a scrapbook page or just run your hand through the jar because you like how it feels.

My challenge this week is to make anything (doesn't have to be a card) using a stamping bella image, ribbon/bows and at least 5 buttons. Here is my sample, a great card that I used buttons to create a wreath around sockafellabella. It was hard to get a good scan with the buttons so the sockafellabella image is a bit blurry but you get the idea.

Ok, to participate in the blog candy you have until Sunday Oct. 12th at midnight to post a link to what you did for this challenge to the comments section of this post. The copy the link to my blog candy and you're done. I'll pick a random winner on Monday Oct. 13th.

The blog candy will include....drumroll please....

1 -Daisybella (a brand spankin new stamp)

2 - 8x8 paper packs from Deija Views

3 -packages of rhinestones in purple, pink and green

3- chalk ink cat's eyes in orchid, aloe vera, and chestnut roan

1- birds and swirls cuttlebug embossing folder

25 -various stamping bella images to play with

Have fun and good luck!

Peace on Earth

I made 10 of these cards to send to the troops. Gina K has a great idea to send blank cards to the troops that they can then send back to their friends and loved ones this holiday season. Check out her blog for more info on how you can send some too. She even has a great list of prizes she is giving away. The top prize is $250 to Gina K. Every card sent gives you a chance to win. Check it all out here.

Stamps- Stampendous

Cuttlebug embossing folder

Nestabilities scalloped oval

Silver embossing

Mark richards gemstones

Want something sweet???

Nothing is sweeter than blog candy so here are a few links to our friends who are offering candy.

1. Katie Cotton is giving away 100 pieces of blog candy for her 100th post.
2. Janet has 500 hits and is trying to get ot 1000.
3. Melanie has made it to 1000 hits.

Stop by their blogs to congratulate them on their blogging achievements and enter to win some sweet candy.